French farmers block ports over controversial EU trade deal

The agricultural workers fear that cheaper Latin American beef could drive them out of business

Farmers across France have continued to block key motorways and ports in protest against a trade deal between the EU and Latin American economic bloc, Mercosur.

The agricultural workers are citing unfair competition from Latin American meat producers, who don’t have to follow the EU’s strict environmental rules.

Early on Monday, some 30 tractors and 60 protesters set up a barricade of straw bales outside oil facilities at the industrial port of La Pallice near La Rochelle, according to local media reports.

Around 30 tractors blocked access to a grain site in the port of Bayonne in violation of the ban on gatherings introduced by the local authorities.

150 protestors used farm machinery to slow down activity at the port of Le Havre, a key site for food imports. They called themselves ‘douanes agricoles’ (farmer customs officers), opening up lorries to inspect if the goods inside complied with EU standards, but stopping short of a full blockade.

In the north of the country, dozens of agricultural workers maintained a roadblock on France’s busiest motorway, the A1 highway between Paris and Lille.

The organizers plan to continue the protests at least until Wednesday.

Demonstrations over the French government’s rules on culls of herds with cases of Lumpy Skin Disease began in December, but they soon expanded to include trade unions angry about the treaty with Mercosur. Agricultural workers in Italy, Poland, and Ireland have also protested against the deal.

Mercosur unites Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay, with Venezuela’s full membership suspended since 2016. The agreement between the EU and the Latin American bloc is expected to create one of the world’s largest free trade areas, covering more than 700 million consumers.

On Sunday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that the treaty with Mercosur will be signed in Paraguay on January 17. The move was approved by individual EU member-states earlier last week.

The European Commission has been accused of pushing the deal through in just 4 weeks after its rejection on December 18, using a “procedural trick.” By splitting the agreement into two parts and voting on a trade-only portion by qualified majority, they bypassed the need for national parliaments approval. This allowed the deal to pass despite formal opposition from countries like France, Ireland, and Austria.

https://www.rt.com/news/630845-france-farmers-protest-mercosur/

Ayatollah Posts That 'Arrogant' Trump Will Be 'Overthrown' As Iran Protests Lose Steam

Update(10:15ET): Iran's Supreme Leader is really playing with fire here in posting the below image on X. While the message didn't appear on his English language account, it is on his Persian account, and thus mainly directed at the Ayatollah's own domestic population.

According to a machine translation, the message says: "That father figure who sits there with arrogance and pride, passing judgment on the entire world, he too should know that usually the tyrants and oppressors of the world, such as Pharaoh and Nimrod and Reza Khan and Mohammad Reza and the likes of them, when they were at the peak of their pride, were overthrown, This one too will be overthrown."

Khamenei perhaps suddenly feels more embolden to poke and mock Trump like this perhaps given the emerging widespread reports that the protests are losing steam, after weekend clashes with policy reportedly resulted in many deaths. There was definitely a major and deadly security crackdown, but this also as the government asserts that dozens of police and military have been attacked and killed, and buildings set on fire by 'rioters' and 'saboteurs'.

The Trump administration was quite out front with saying it would "stand" with the Iranian people, and even protect them if they come under assault from government forces. This allowed Iranian leadership to tell people in the streets that they are doing the bidding of foreign powers like the US and Israel.

This also amid more tough talk from Iran's parliament on Monday:

Iran’s parliament speaker has described the response to the protests as a fight with “terrorists” while addressing a large rally in the capital.

Iran is fighting a “four-front war”, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said, listing economic, psychological and military engagement with the United States and Israel, and “today [is] a war against terrorists”.

“The great Iranian nation has never allowed the enemy to achieve its goals,” Ghalibaf said as supporters chanted, “Death to Israel, death to America.”

He pledged Iran’s military would teach Trump “an unforgettable lesson” in case of a new US attack, adding: “Come and see all your facilities in the region destroyed.”

Trump on Sunday did raise the question of direct help to the protesters (who may not actually be interested in Washington's help). Trump said he will speak to Elon Musk about sending Starlink to protesters in Iran, following the government-imposed outage which has remained in place since Thursday.

"We may get the internet going if that's possible," the president told reporters. Elon "is very good at that kind of thing. I'm going to call him as soon as I'm finished with you."

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/trump-already-receiving-briefings-military-strike-options-iran-protest-deaths-soar

Pentagon Tells Trump It Needs More Time To Prepare For War With Iran

Senior Department of War officials have told President Donald Trump they need more time to consolidate American troops deployed to the Middle East before the US launches an attack on Iran.

According to The Telegraph, "Trump has been warned that the US military needs more time to prepare for strikes against Iran." Military commanders in the Middle East stated they need to "consolidate US military positions and prepare defenses" in anticipation of an Iranian retaliatory attack.

Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said that if it attacks Iran, the Islamic Republic will strike Israel and US bases in the Middle East.

Trump has threatened Iran several times in recent weeks. "If Iran [shoots] and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue. We are locked and loaded and ready to go," Trump said earlier this month.

Demonstrations began in Iran two weeks ago, and some protests have escalated into riots. Some groups report that 200 people have been killed during the demonstrations, including over 40 members of Iranian security forces.

Iranian authorities have reportedly used live ammunition to break up protests, and Tehran has cut off internet service in an attempt to quell the movement.

Israel Hayom spoke with American officials who said the White House is preparing a range of actions against Iran, including using Starlink to provide protesters with internet access, a cyber attack, new sanctions, and kinetic military action.

Signs of the US taking precautions and sending additional assets?

"Let us be clear: in the case of an attack on Iran, the occupied territories [Israel] as well as all US bases and ships will be our legitimate targets," said the former commander in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

Two American C-17A military transport planes departed Germany and appeared to be heading for the Middle East on Saturday evening, as speculation mounted about a potential strike.

The Telegraph reports that potential targets of US strikes include non-military targets in Tehran and Iranian security forces.

https://www.zerohedge.com/military/pentagon-tells-trump-it-needs-more-time-prepare-war-iran

Musk Says X's New Algorithm Will Be Open Source In 6 Days

Elon Musk said on Jan. 10 that his X social media platform would open its new algorithm to the public within a week.

“We will make the new X algorithm, including all code used to determine what organic and advertising posts are recommended to users, open source in 7 days,” Musk wrote in a post on X on Jan. 10.

“This will be repeated every 4 weeks, with comprehensive developer notes, to help you understand what changed.”

Authorities in the UK and the European Union notified Musk’s X and xAI on Jan. 5 that its regulatory bodies were aware of reports alleging that X’s artificial intelligence chatbot Grok had been used to generate sexually explicit images, including images that appeared to depict minors.

European Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier said that the EU is “very well aware of the fact that [Grok] is now offering a ‘spicy mode’ showing explicit sexual content with some output generated with childlike images.”

“This is not spicy. This is illegal. This is appalling. This is disgusting,” Regnier told reporters on Jan. 5

Musk had written in a post two days prior that “anyone using Grok to make illegal content will suffer the same consequences as if they upload illegal content.”

On Jan. 8, Regnier said a retention order the EU sent to X last year would be extended to the end of 2026. The order regarded the platform’s algorithms and the potential dissemination of illegal content.

The EU also fined X 120 million euros, or $140 million, last month, accusing the company of violating the bloc’s Digital Services Act transparency obligations. The fine was levied in relation to X’s “blue checkmark” subscription model, allegations of limited transparency regarding X’s ad repository, and the platform not giving researchers access to its public data.

French prosecutors in July 2025 launched a probe into X, citing alleged algorithm abuse and fraudulent data extraction by either the platform or its executives. The investigation followed a previous preliminary probe from January 2025 after the French government received complaints from a lawmaker and a senior French official about suspected foreign influence by X.

https://www.zerohedge.com/technology/musk-says-xs-new-algorithm-will-be-open-source-6-days

German Official Says ‘Sovereignty’ Must Be Respected as President Trump Eyes Deal on Greenland

A German official on Sunday said international law applies to every nation, his statement coming as U.S. President Donald Trump eyes Greenland in an effort to protect America from its adversaries.

Reuters on Sunday referenced a comment from Germany’s finance minister regarding the issue pertaining to Greenland, which is under the jurisdiction of the Kingdom of Denmark.

“The principles of international law apply to everyone, including the United States,” German Finance Minister and Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil said on Sunday, in reference to President Donald Trump’s threats to seize Greenland,” the outlet continued:

“It is solely up to Denmark and Greenland to decide about Greenland’s future. Territorial sovereignty and integrity must be respected,” Klingbeil said ahead of his departure to Washington for a meeting of finance ministers from the Group of Seven advanced economies.

…

“We increase security in the Arctic together as NATO allies, not in opposition to one another,” Klingbeil said.

According to Breitbart News, officials in Paris and Berlin have reportedly been coordinating to respond to Trump regarding the prospect of the U.S. acquiring Greenland.

The news comes after the U.S. military overthrew socialist dictator Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela “in what the White House has described as a demonstration of the Monroe Doctrine, which asserts that America has hegemonic control over the Western Hemisphere and it is therefore within its rights to take action against any foreign incursion into its sphere of influence.”

President Trump recently asserted the U.S. will take action when it comes to Greenland, and explained if they did not, Russia or China would move in, Breitbart News reported Friday.

“Right now, we are going to do something on Greenland, whether they like it or not, because if we don’t do it, Russia or China will take over Greenland, and we’re not going to have Russia or China as a neighbor. I would like to make a deal the easy way, but if we don’t do it the easy way, we’re going to do it the hard way,” Trump stated.

In response to Trump, Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen and several other party leaders said, “We don’t want to be Americans, we don’t want to be Danes, we want to be Greenlanders,” per the Associated Press (AP).

https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/01/11/german-official-says-sovereignty-must-be-respected-as-trump-eyes-deal-on-greenland/

Private jets owned by every pharma company in the world have been landing in the SF Bay Area all day.

JPMorgan’s 44th Annual Healthcare Conference Draws 8,000+ Attendees as NYSE Celebrates Innovation On-Site

NYSE Rings Opening Bell at JPMorgan’s Healthcare Conference, Signaling a Major Industry Gathering

The New York Stock Exchange made a notable move this morning, ringing its Opening Bell not from Wall Street, but live on the floor of J.P. Morgan’s 44th Annual Healthcare Conference in San Francisco. This high-profile event is attracting over 8,000 attendees and representatives from more than 500 leading healthcare companies, underscoring the growing influence and networking power of JPMorgan’s annual conference.

Key Themes: Industry Resilience Amidst Market Uncertainty

Today’s pre-market update spotlights a complex market backdrop. Stocks edged lower Monday morning as news broke of a Justice Department investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, adding an extra layer of caution. However, Fed policy concerns were met with Powell’s insistence on sticking to core methodology, alleviating speculation of immediate rate changes. For the healthcare sector, the timing of JPMorgan’s event couldn’t be more strategic—investors and executives alike are watching to see how innovation and resilience will shape 2026.

Why JPMorgan’s Conference Signals More Than Just Deals

Beyond big announcements, this four-day marathon event offers a look at sector trends and strategic deals poised to disrupt the market. Jeremy Milman, head of JPMorgan’s Global Healthcare Investment Banking Group, will be a key voice—shedding light on how the bank is supporting healthcare innovation and what trends are set to define the next year.

https://marketchameleon.com/articles/b/2026/1/12/jpmorgan-healthcare-conference-2026-nyse-opening-bell-8000-attendees

https://www.antiwar.com/

Coalition advances bill to repeal criminal charge that Netanyahu faces in his trial

Opposition brands legislation to do away with the offense of fraud and breach of trust a ‘mafia-like move’ aimed to enable PM and his allies to evade justice

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Knesset, January 5, 2026. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

Coalition lawmakers announced Monday that they are advancing a bill to repeal the crime of fraud and breach of trust — a charge that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces in all three of his ongoing corruption cases.

The bill is the latest in a series of attempts by the coalition to deflate or outright scrap the prime minister’s long-running trial. He is charged with fraud and breach of trust in three cases and bribery in one of them. He denies all wrongdoing.

The text of the bill does not specify whether, if passed, it would apply retroactively to charges brought before its enactment, such as those against Netanyahu.

The bill also represents another front in the years-long effort by the right-wing government to weaken the judiciary.

Opposition leaders decried the bill as an act of “war” meant to enable the prime minister to evade justice. The bill’s sponsors argue that the charge of fraud and breach of trust is vague and superfluous. They propose trashing it while more precisely delineating other types of corruption offenses.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/coalition-advances-bill-to-repeal-criminal-charge-that-netanyahu-faces-in-his-trial/

Police declare Netanyahu’s ex-campaign adviser Einhorn a ‘fugitive’ evading arrest

Cops say warrant issued for Yisrael Einhorn, seek to bar Jonatan Urich from contact with those tied to classified document leak; both are also suspects in Qatargate case

Police on Monday declared Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Serbian-based ex-campaign adviser Yisrael Einhorn to be a “fugitive criminal” and said there was an arrest warrant out for him.

It was the first time the police had made the declaration about the premier’s former aide, who is a suspect in both the Qatargate and leaked documents scandals.

The statement came during a hearing in which police sought a two-month extension on the release conditions placed on Jonatan Urich, another former close aide to Netanyahu, involving the theft of classified IDF documents and the leaking of one of them to the German daily, Bild.

The conditions include a ban on communication with other people involved in the scandal, as well as a prohibition on returning to work in the Prime Minister’s Office.

“Einhorn is a suspect in this affair and is being investigated for offenses of passing on confidential information, and an arrest warrant was issued against him,” police told the Rishon Lezion Magistrate’s Court in this context, according to Hebrew media reports.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/police-declare-netanyahus-ex-campaign-adviser-einhorn-a-fugitive-evading-arrest/

Tillis Threatens to Block Fed Nominations Over Powell Criminal Investigation

RINO Senator Thom Tillis is threatening to block any future Fed nominations over the Justice Department’s federal criminal investigation into Fed Chair Jerome Powell.

Federal investigators opened a criminal investigation into Fed Chairman Jerome Powell.

Powell is under fire for the cost of renovating the Fed’s DC headquarters. The cost ballooned from $1.9 billion to $2.5 billion.

In July, GOP Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna sent a letter to the DOJ accusing Powell of perjury.

“On June 25, 2025, Chairman Powell provided testimony under oath before the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs regarding the renovation of the Federal Reserve’s Eccles Building. In his statements, he made several materially false claims,” Luna’s letter said.

Rep. Luna said Powell was lying about the cost of the renovations.

“Separately, in a letter to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought, Chairman Powell characterized the changes that escalated the cost of the project from $1.9 billion to $2.5 billion as minor. However, documents reviewed by congressional investigators indicate that the scope and cost overruns of this project were neither minor in nature nor in substance,” Luna wrote.

On Sunday, The New York Times reported that US Attorney for DC Jeanine Pirro opened the investigation into Powell in November.

Tillis, a Senate Finance Committee member, lashed out at the Trump Administration and said he will oppose any nominee for the Fed – including the upcoming Fed Chair vacancy over the DOJ’s investigation into Powell.

“I will oppose the confirmation of any nominee for the Fed – including the upcoming Fed Chair vacancy – until this legal matter is fully resolved.

JUST IN: RINO Tillis Threatens to Block Fed Nominations Over Powell Criminal Investigation

January 12, 2026

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RINO Senator Thom Tillis is threatening to block any future Fed nominations over the Justice Department’s federal criminal investigation into Fed Chair Jerome Powell.

Federal investigators opened a criminal investigation into Fed Chairman Jerome Powell.

Powell is under fire for the cost of renovating the Fed’s DC headquarters. The cost ballooned from $1.9 billion to $2.5 billion.

In July, GOP Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna sent a letter to the DOJ accusing Powell of perjury.

“On June 25, 2025, Chairman Powell provided testimony under oath before the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs regarding the renovation of the Federal Reserve’s Eccles Building. In his statements, he made several materially false claims,” Luna’s letter said.

Rep. Luna said Powell was lying about the cost of the renovations.

“Separately, in a letter to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought, Chairman Powell characterized the changes that escalated the cost of the project from $1.9 billion to $2.5 billion as minor. However, documents reviewed by congressional investigators indicate that the scope and cost overruns of this project were neither minor in nature nor in substance,” Luna wrote.

On Sunday, The New York Times reported that US Attorney for DC Jeanine Pirro opened the investigation into Powell in November.

Tillis, a Senate Finance Committee member, lashed out at the Trump Administration and said he will oppose any nominee for the Fed – including the upcoming Fed Chair vacancy over the DOJ’s investigation into Powell.

“I will oppose the confirmation of any nominee for the Fed – including the upcoming Fed Chair vacancy – until this legal matter is fully resolved.

TILLIS says he will OPPOSE any future nominee to the Fed “until this legal matter is fully resolved” https://t.co/U4Ggl8Cesv pic.twitter.com/0pefLlQ90k

— Brendan Pedersen (@BrendanPedersen) January 12, 2026

Powell responded to the DOJ’s criminal probe in a video message released Sunday evening.

“I have deep respect for the rule of law and for accountability in our democracy. No one, certainly not the chair of the Federal Reserve, is above the law, but this unprecedented action should be seen in the broader context of the administration’s threats and ongoing pressure,” Powell said.

“This new threat is not about my testimony last June or about the renovation of the Federal Reserve buildings,” Powell added in a video message.

“It is not about Congress’s oversight role. The Fed, through testimony and other public disclosures, made every effort to keep Congress informed about the renovation project. Those are pretexts. The threat of criminal charges is a consequence of the Federal Reserve setting interest rates based on our best assessment of what will serve the public, rather than following the preferences of the president,” Powell said.

https://www.yourdestinationnow.com/2026/01/just-in-rino-tillis-threatens-to-block.html

James Comer Says Ilhan Omar Is “At the Top of the Suspect List” in Massive Minnesota Fraud Scandal — Ethics Complaints Incoming, Claims Her Husband Profited

House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer dropped a bombshell this week, suggesting that far-left Rep. Ilhan Omar sits “at the top of the suspect list” in the sprawling Minnesota fraud scandals involving taxpayer-funded daycare and healthcare programs.

The comments came during a pointed exchange with journalist Alison Steinberg, who raised serious concerns about whether members of Congress themselves may have benefited from money funneled through political action committees tied to fraudulent daycare and healthcare schemes.

The Gateway Pundit previously reported that retired Lieutenant General Michael Flynn has leveled explosive allegations against Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, claiming that a lack of accountability regarding massive taxpayer fraud in Minnesota is linked to the Speaker’s own financial networks.

Minnesota has become ground zero for some of the largest pandemic-era fraud cases in U.S. history, involving the alleged theft of hundreds of millions of dollars intended to feed children and provide healthcare services.

Many of these cases have centered on networks tied to Somali-run nonprofits and daycare operations, fraud that went unchecked for years under Democrat leadership.

When asked how Americans can trust Congress to police fraud if lawmakers themselves are implicated, Comer made it clear that there is a formal mechanism to deal with corruption on Capitol Hill.

Alison Steinberg:

“There are reports that members of Congress are actually receiving daycare and health care clinic money funneled through various PACs. If this is true and widespread, how can the American people trust Congress to task and uncover the far-reaching tentacles of this fraud?

James Comer:

Any member of Congress that’s getting any money unethically or illegally—there’s an Ethics Committee, and it’s bipartisan. It’s an equal number of Republicans and Democrats, and that’s the committee that’s supposed to investigate members of Congress.

The Ethics Committee was created—we have in our rules that we’re not supposed to investigate other members. But the Ethics Committee has a staff, and that is their sole purpose for existence in life. I think the House Ethics Committee traditionally has been a lot harder on unethical behavior than the Senate Ethics Committee. That’s my opinion.

But anybody that has information on a member of Congress, bring that to the Ethics Committee, and they’ll investigate it. I don’t care if they’re a Republican or a Democrat. We need to hold them accountable.”

The exchange became even more explosive when Steinberg asked directly about Ilhan Omar.

https://www.stationgossip.com/2026/01/james-comer-says-ilhan-omar-is-at-top.html

Mercedes Relocates Production To Hungary, 20,000 Germans Set To Lose Their Jobs

In yet another major blow to the German automobile labor market, Mercedes has announced it will be relocating production of its A-Class from Rastatt, Germany, to Kecskemét, Hungary. While Hungary’s foreign minister is taking a victory lap, Germany’s largest opposition party is sharply crticizing he government as signs grow that Germany’s automobile market is faltering.

Trade Minister Péter Szijjártó has officially confirmed Mercedes move, writes Budapester.

Szijjártó credited the success to “an economic policy based on sound common sense and a stable government that continually attracts new investment projects from global companies in America, Asia, and even Germany.”

However, the news is not being welcomed in Germany, with the Alternative for Germany (AfD) pointing out the dire economic situation the country is facing.

“Mercedes-Benz has stood for German engineering excellence and Germany’s economic upswing for decades. Yet, like many other automakers, the company is cutting jobs in Germany and expanding in other countries. As a result, the entire production of the A-Class is being relocated to Hungary. 20,000 employees are expected to lose their jobs as a result,” wrote AfD politician Christian Abel on X.

“This is a direct consequence of Friedrich Merz’s green climate and energy policies. To make Germany an attractive industrial location again, a genuine economic policy turnaround is needed through the termination of the energy transition, the combustion engine ban, the abolition of fleet emission limits, and the elimination of state-mandated reporting requirements. If this is not possible within the EU, Germany must seriously consider a Dexit,” he wrote.

His last comment has proven controversial in the AfD itself, with the mainline position that a Dexit will not be considered. In 2024, it was reported that AfD co-leader Weidel said she ruled out completely the idea that a Dexit, or exit of Germany from the EU, was possible.

Nevertheless, in 2023, the country lost a staggering 120,000 manufacturing jobs, highlighting serious problems.

However, Hungary, already a major manufacturing hub for German automobile producers, is now set to expand. Production of the A-Class is slated to begin at the Kecskemét plant as early as Q2, with production planned to continue until 2028.

“Hungary is demonstrating economic brilliance at a time when all of Europe is suffering from the consequences of the war in Ukraine and the misguided policies of the EU headquarters in Brussels,” Szijjártó wrote on social media.

Mercedes’ decision proves that investors embrace Hungary’s political stability, low taxes, and highly skilled workforce, with the Kecskemét plant its largest production site in Europe; only in China does the group have a larger capacity, notes Budapester.

Mercedes, named “Most Attractive Employer” in 2024, now directly employs more than 5,000 people in Hungary.

https://rmx.news/article/mercedes-relocates-production-to-hungary-20000-germans-set-to-lose-their-jobs/

Retired Argentinian general claims Israelis caused Patagonia wildfires in antisemitic conspiracy

Argentine army's former deputy chief, alongside several key figures from the opposition, shared a false accusation that said two Israelis used an IDF grenade to cause a wildfire.

Argentine retired military general César Milani, alongside several key figures from the opposition, shared an antisemitic conspiracy theory on Sunday claiming two Israelis used an IDF grenade to cause a wildfire in the Patagonia region of southern Argentina.

In a post on the wildfires, Milani placed the blame on "a foreign state, pointed out by the locals themselves as responsible," alongside a picture of Argentine President Javier Milei waving an Israeli flag.

Waldo Wolff, one of Argentina's Jewish community referents and deputy in the city of Buenos Aires legislature, called Milani "a coward," claiming that he was trying to hide his antisemitism by not explicitly mentioning Israel.

Opposition lawmaker Luis D'Elia, who is also accused of being the link between Iran and the Argentine administration that gave impunity to the Iranian politicians accused of the bombing of the AMIA in 1994, posted: "The 'Israelis' are going around burning Patagonia. Listen to this kid."

False accusation against Israel leads to wildfire conspiracy fiasco

The false rumors about an Israeli involvement in the wildfires that are hitting the Patagonia region started on Saturday, when radio host Marcela Feudale stated during a live coverage that there were reports of two Israelis causing the fires.

She later went back on her statements, said she "didn't aim to discriminate against anybody," and apologized for using a mistaken source. She even shared a post by Meeretz Argentina and sociologist Kevin Ary Levin that explained "why it's important to combat these dangerous theories."

Some of the theories shared online claimed that an M26 grenade produced by Israel was found in Patagonia, in the context of the fires in the province of Chubut. Argentine fact-checking group Chequeado addressed the false claims, stating that the grenade was actually a model FMK2, produced by Fabricaciones Militares, as confirmed by the provincial government.

The wildfires that advanced across Chubut have already affected 3,500 hectares (35 square kilometers), with reports that rain in the area is helping efforts to extinguish the fires.

President Milei slammed the journalist, saying she is part of "the dark side of Argentina," and added, "I don't think it was a coincidence. They use Israel and the Jews to attack the government, and it got completely out of hand."

Mauro Berenstein, president of the Delegación de Asociaciones Israelitas Argentinas (DAIA), told Clarin, "Pointing without evidence to 'two Israelis' as responsible for the fires is irresponsible and dangerous. It generates stigmas, reinforces an anti-Jewish narrative, and hatred. The media have an enormous responsibility: a lie is not an opinion. From the DAIA, we will not allow it."

Sabrina Ajmenchet, congresswoman in Milei's party La Libertad Avanza in Argentina's lower chamber, said: "It was exactly the same as those who accuse Israel of wanting to burn the forests to keep who-knows-what, or the government of having a macabre plan for Jews to control Patagonia. Would you have said 'two Chileans,' 'two Uruguayans,' 'two Spaniards,' or 'two Australians'? No. You had an objective."

Argentina delays Jerusalem embassy inauguration over oil project near Falkland Islands

The situation arose as Israel and Argentina face their first diplomatic hurdle since Milei assumed office in 2023, after reports emerged that Argentina was delaying the move of its embassy to Jerusalem due to bilateral tensions over an Israeli company’s plans to drill for oil in a field near the Falkland Islands. This was first reported by N12 on Sunday.

Both Argentina and the United Kingdom consider the Falkland Islands (called Malvinas in Argentina) to be their sovereign territory, and the matter remains disputed.

The opening of Argentina’s new embassy in Jerusalem was scheduled for Independence Day 2026, but has allegedly been suspended.

https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-883035

Israel's AG: Netanyahu Government Violating Top Court Ruling 'Danger to Democracy'

Israeli Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara said on Sunday that the government has violated a High Court ruling compelling it to present a plan for the military conscription of draft-age ultra-Orthodox youth under existing law.

In a statement to the court, she asked the judges to order Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government to implement the ruling immediately, saying that their conduct poses "a real danger to democratic institutions in the State of Israel."

"The violation of judicial orders, while appearing to have no real intention to fulfill them… and particularly when the violators are the prime minister and the government of Israel, means stripping the ability of the courts to conduct effective judicial review of government actions," Baharav-Miara said.

The attorney general submitted her position as part of a hearing regarding a contempt of court petition filed by the Movement for Quality Government in Israel.

Last week, Supreme Court justice Noam Sohlberg ordered the government to respond to the petition by Sunday. According to the petition, the government is ignoring a Nov. 19 ruling that requires it to formulate an effective policy within 45 days, by Jan 4, to enforce equal conscription for yeshiva students.

"This is happening because they cannot defeat me in the elections," he said, "so they bring me to trial, and the trial is collapsing, so they bring in every single one of my assistants and try to extort them."

According to Netanyahu, the police are trying to seize his aides' mobile phones "to look for something, maybe something embarrassing. They do this time and time again."

Netanyahu's chief of staff, Tzachi Braverman, was barred from entering the Prime Minister's Office for 15 days and from leaving the country for a month after being detained by police on Sunday for questioning.

Braverman was taken into custody by the police unit specializing in corruption investigations in connection with the BibiLeaks affair, which involves the 2024 leak of classified IDF documents. Haaretz has learned that police searched Braverman's home the same morning and seized his phone.

He is suspected of obstruction of justice and breach of trust.

https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2026-01-12/ty-article-live/.premium/trump-says-iran-reached-out-for-nuclear-talks-may-meet-with-them/0000019b-b067-da2a-abdf-fa7f459b0000

Beyonce Wearing The Ring of Baphomet.

https://youtu.be/VtL8NX03gc4

>>24111583

Beyonce pledges allegiance to satan!

https://youtu.be/YNaW5Pq006c

Katy Perry says she sold her soul to the devil

https://youtu.be/8ZGoixVlrKE

The Bush Family and the Mexican Drug Cartel

Jeb Bush is a presidential candidate. [was in 2015] But Jeb is not only the brother of George W. and the son of George H. W. Bush.

Jeb Bush also had close personal ties to Raul Salinas de Gortari, brother of Mexico’s former president Carlos Salinas de Gortari. In the 1990s, Raul the “drug kingpin”, according to Switzerland’s federal prosecutor Carla del Ponte, was one of the main figures of the Mexican Drug Cartel.

Jeb Bush –before becoming Governor of the Sunshine State– was a close friend of Raul Salinas de Gortiari (image right):

“There has also been a great deal of speculation in Mexico about the exact nature of Raul Salinas’ close friendship with former President George Bush’s son, Jeb. It is well known here that for many years the two families spent vacations together — the Salinases at Jeb Bush’s home in Miami, the Bushes at Raul’s ranch, Las Mendocinas, under the volcano in Puebla.

There are many in Mexico who believe that the relationship became a back channel for delicate and crucial negotiations between the two governments, leading up to President Bush’s sponsorship of NAFTA.” (Prominent intellectual and former foreign Minister of Mexico Jorge G. Castañeda, The Los Angeles Times. and Houston Chronicle, 9 March 1995, emphasis added)

The personal relationship between the Bush and Salinas families was a matter of public record. Former President George H. W. Bush had developed close personal ties with Carlos Salinas and his father, Raul Salinas Lozano. (left)

Raul Salinas Lozano was the family patriarch, father of Carlos and Raul Junior. According to the former private secretary to Raul Salinas Lozano (in as statement to US authorities):

“… Mr. Salinas Lozano was a leading figure in narcotics dealings that also involved his son, Raul Salinas de Gortari, his son-in-law, Jose Francisco Ruiz Massieu, the No. 2 official in the governing Institutional Revolutionary Party, or PRI, and other leading politicians, according to the documents. Mr. Ruiz Massieu was assassinated in 1994.” (Dallas Morning News, 26 February 1997, emphasis added).

Former president George H. W. Bush and Raul Salinas Lozano were “intimo amigos”.

According to former DEA official Michael Levine, the Mexican drug Cartel was a “family affair”. Both Carlos and Raul were prominent members of the Cartel. And this was known to then US Attorney General Edward Meese in 1987 one year prior to Carlos Salinas’ inauguration as the country’s president.

When Carlos Salinas was inaugurated as President, the entire Mexican State apparatus became criminalised with key government positions occupied by members of the Cartel. The Minister of Commerce in charge of trade negotiations leading up to the signing of NAFTA was Raul Salinas Lozano, father of Raul Junior the Drug kingpin and of Carlos the president.

And it is precisely during this period that the Salinas government launched a sweeping privatisation program under advice from the IMF.

The privatisation program subsequently evolved into a multibillion dollar money laundering operation. Narco-dollars were channelled towards the acquisition of State property and public utilities.

https://www.globalresearch.ca/jeb-bush-the-mexican-drug-cartel-and-free-trade/5448747

4 Israelis arrested for running drug ring on popular Thai island

Drugs and cash were seized during arrest operation by Thai tourist police on Koh Phangan; one Israeli lives on the island and is suspected of running what was described as a 'network'; the bags of drugs had guns and portraits of Pablo Escobar painted on them

Thai Tourist Police raided a luxury villa on the popular island of Koh Phangan on Sunday, arresting four Israeli nationals suspected of operating a drug distribution network targeting foreign tourists—primarily fellow Israelis. The raid resulted in the seizure of a significant quantity of drugs and cash.

Among those arrested were R., a 48-year-old Israeli resident of the island, a 33-year-old man identified as Sh., and two young women aged 24 and 23, identified as M. and G., respectively.

The operation followed complaints from local residents about a loud party and suspicious comings and goings at a villa in the island’s Moo 4 district. A joint force of tourist police, local police, immigration officials and provincial authorities arrived on the scene and encountered Sh., who was behaving suspiciously and attempted to flee.

Inside the villa, officers detained the two women and found white powder residue on a table. Seized during the raid were 3.32 grams of cocaine, 28.99 grams of ketamine, 0.86 grams of MDMA powder (ecstasy), and 29 electronic cigarettes.

The suspects told investigators they had purchased the drugs via WhatsApp from R., the island resident. Police later raided R.’s home in the Moo 6 district, arresting him and seizing a large stash of narcotics: 33.36 grams of cocaine, 16.07 grams of ketamine, ecstasy tablets and powder, LSD blotters and 79,000 baht in cash. The drugs were packaged in zip-lock bags labeled with an image of a gun—believed by police to be the network’s trademark. Some bags also bore images of notorious Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar.

According to the Thai authorities' official statement, the group focused on selling drugs at parties attended by Israeli tourists across the island. The operation is part of a broader national crackdown on foreign criminal networks in Thailand, aimed at restoring Koh Phangan’s reputation as a safe and tourist-friendly destination.

The three suspects arrested at the villa face charges of joint possession and sale of Category 1 and 2 drugs (including MDMA, cocaine and ketamine), drug use and possession of untaxed goods (e-cigarettes). R., identified as the main supplier, faces charges of possession and sale of Category 1 and 2 drugs, as well as personal drug use.

https://www.ynetnews.com/article/byhm9jghzg

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Kevin Rudd calls time on US ambassadorship a year early

Kevin Rudd will end his tenure as Australia's ambassador to the US a year early following a tumultuous period under the Trump administration.

The former Labor prime minister was appointed as ambassador in 2023 but faced controversy for his previous criticisms of President Donald Trump.

Mr Trump reclaimed the top job in 2024, complicating the government's relationship with the ambassador.

https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/9150484/kevin-rudd-calls-time-on-us-ambassadorship-a-year-early/

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https://x.com/elonmusk/status/2010295089797730611